Educational chart



June 8 1926. 1,587,928

R. S. THOMPSON EDUCATIONAL CAHABT Filed Sept. 29. 1 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 June a 192s,

R. S. THOMPSON EDUCATIONAL CHART Filed Sept. 29, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 W gwm ntoz Patented June 55,

urru .sira'rrus assua e RAY S. THOMPSOJLOFTIANCOCK, MINNESOTA.

EDUCATIOHAL CHART.

Application filed septemberfia, 1924. ;Ser ia1.No.'74'O,557.

T his invention relates to educational -charts andmoreparticularly to a chartfor use'by teachers in propounding problemsin arithmetic.

-Ordinarily, the teacher is required towrite .the 'various problems to be solved by the class or classesof pupils, upon theblackboard, and after the problems have been presumably solvedebyi the upils, their work papers ere collected and 23116 inspected by *theteacher aud -corrected. This consumes considerable time and labor on the part of utheiteacher,wvhichimight be more profitably spent. Therefore, it is one of the important objectsof the present inventionto provide :achartavhich maybe employed by a'teacher in instructing 'various grades in the several arithmetical processes without the necessity of writing upon-the blackboard the various problems which areto'be solved, and inrthis connection, the invention contemplates the provision ,of achart embodying such characteristics thata vast number of problems may be'present-ed to the-pupils for solution by an extremely-simple: and convenient adjustment of the component parts of the Chart, and :by which adjustment the chart, when suspended in view. of the pupils of one or'more grades, will furnish'them With a sufficient :number of problems to engage their'attention for a considerable periodof time,'thuspermitting the teacher, Without further attentioneithertothe chart or to the class or classes, under her care, toen uage in other Work: as, for example, preparation for instruction in some other subject.

Another :object of the invention is to provide-atchart whichwhen presented with one face to the class or classes, maybe em- .ployed in. propounding problems of asim ple "nature which are-tobe solved'mentally and the solut-ions given orally, the chart being so constructedithatwhen its other face is pro v sented to a class or classes, there Will bepre- "sented to'the said class or classesyproblems "ofa'more ditlicult naturewhich cannot'be conveniently solved WltlTOUt resorting to writing, so that the chart Whole is adapted for employment in teaching the various arithmetical processes 'to pupils of wall 'ggra des.

rrnother .ohjectoftheinventionis to so construct and arrange the component parts of the chart'an'd soarrange the various numbers upon theucomponent parts thereof, ihatthepupilsavill be caused to learn'their multipliers, dividends, and subtrahends, according to the arithn1et1cal signs displayedto the ,view of. the

lessons through the exercise of their mental functions-rather than by rote,as isthe case 1 n the memorization of the multiplication stables.

Another very important object of-the invention is-to so construct the chart and an range the numbers formed by the compo-- nentpartsithereof, aswvell as thes ens-indi- :cating the arithmetical processes'to be followed, that difierent groups of: numbers may constitute, at various times, multiplicands, divisors, :minuends,

pupils in association Withthe several groups of numbers likewise presented to -view.

In the accompanying: drawings Figure 1 is a ,VlGW in elevation of the chart looking at one face thereof.

Figure 2-is ;a. si1nilar View lookingatrthe other .face of 'theqchart.

F1gure3 1s agroup View illustrating the opposite faces of-one of the number discs of the chart.

Figure 41 is asimilar view illustratingthe opposite faces I of .another of the number discs.

Figure :5 is a similarviewillustrating the opposite facesof the'disc which bearszthe signs indicating the arithmetical processes to befollowed.

The-chart embodying the invention includes, in its-structure, two face:plates,;0ne of Whichis indicated bythe numeral 1 and the other by the numeral :2. Theseipl'ates may :be-of any suitable material such, for

,eX-an'iple, as-fiber board, metal, or the like,

and each plate preferably has a straight lower margin indicated by the numeral 3, .vertical sidemargins indicated by-the-nuinstal and an arcuate uppermaruin'indicated by the numeral 5, and the said plates ere flSSGD'lblGClWlbll their margin-aliportions substantially in registration and are united hy cyelct rivets indicated by the numeral 6, located 'at the lower corners of the plates, and by a similar rivet-7located near the arcuate 11'121I'fllnS '5 of. the plates and substantially in the vertical median line of the Ill] number discs indicated one by the numeral 8, another by the numeral 9, and the third by the numeral 10. Pivot pins 11, 12 and 13 are secured through the plates 1 and 2 at appropriate points and axially through the discs 8, 9 and 10, respectively, and byreference to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, it will be observed that the pivot pins 11 and 12 are located in horizontal alinement at the upper portion of the chart and are symmetrically located with relation to the marginal portions of the said chart, the pivot pin 13 being located near the lower margin of the chart and in substantially vertical alinement with the eyelet 7, the pivot pins 11, 12 and 13 occupying relative positions representing the corners of an imaginary equilateral triangle. In this manner, the discs 8, 9 and 10 are supported between. the plates 1 and 2 for independent and selective rotary adjustment, and for this purpose the discs are of such diameter and so arranged that the peripheral portions of the discs 8 and 9 will project a short distance beyond the arcuate upper marginal portions of the plates 1 v and 2, as indicated respectively by the numerals 14 and 15, whereas the peripheral portion of the disc at the lower side of the disc. is presented within a recess 16 formed in the lower margins 3 of the plates 1 and 2, this peripheral portion of the said disc 10 being indicated by the numeral 17. By means of this arrangement, the peripheral portions of the several discs may be engaged by the fingers and the discs'rotatably adjusted.

The relatively adjacent peripheral portions of thediscs 8 and 9 are positioned relatively close to each other, and the plate l'is formed, in horizontal alinement with the pivot pins 11 and 12, with preferably circular openings 18 and 19, the said plate 1 being further formed. at the vertical median line of the plate and between the pivot pin 13 and opposite the upper marginal portion of the disc 10, with a preferably circular opening indicated by the numeral 20. Thus, the peripheral portions of the faces of the discs 8, 9 and 10 are exposed respectively through the openings 18, 19 and 20 in the plate 1. and these portions of the said discs respectively bear numbers indicated by the numerals 21 and 22, and signs of arithmetical processes indicated by the numeral 23.

By reference now to Figure 3 of the drawings, and more particularly to the righthand view in said figure, it will be observed that the disc 8 bears an annular series of the numbers 21 ranging in numerical order from 1 to 12 so that by rotating the said disc 8, any one of these numbers may be presented to view through the opening 18. The left hand view'in Figure 3 represents the other face of the disc 8 which likewise bears a plurality of numbers arranged in an annular series but this face of the said disc 8 as well as the corresponding faces of the discs 9 and 10, will not be specifically referred to at the present time in order to avoid confusion. That face of the disc 9 the marginal portion of which is to be exposed through the opening 19, and which face of the disc is shown in the right hand View of Figure 4, bears an annular series of the numbers indicated by the numeral 22, and these numbers range in numerical order from 1 to 9 inclusive, and between the numbers 1 and 9 the said portion of the disc bears the sign of multiplication, indicated by the numeral 2 1, the sign of addition indicated by the numeral 25, and the sign of subtraction, indicated by the numeral 26. At this point it will be evident that by rotatably adjusting the disc 9, the numbers comprising the series 22, as well as the arithmetical signs 24, 25 and 26, may be selectively brought to view within the bounds of the opening 19,

The right hand view of Figure 5 of the drawings, illustrates that face of the disc 10, the peripheral portion of which is to be exposed through the opening 20, and this face of the disc bears upon its said portion a substantially semi-annular series of arithmetical signs comprising the signof' division, indicated by the numeral 27, the sign of multiplication indicated by the numeral 28, another sign of multiplicationindicated by the numeral 29, another sign of'division indicated by the numeral 30, the sign of addition indicated by the numeral 31, and the sign of subtraction indicatedby the numeral 32. This portion of the said disc 10 likewise bears, opposite the sign of division 30, the sign'of multiplication indicated by the numeral 33, and. diametrically opposite the sign of multiplication indicated by the numeral 29, the silgn of division indicated by the numeral 3 1:. At this point it will be evident that by rotating the disc 10, the arithmetical signs 27 to 33 may be rotatably brought to view within the bounds of the opening 20.

The series of numbers indicated in general by the numeral and these numbers range from 0 to 12. These numbers are indiscriminately arranged and by reference to Figure 1, it will be observed that some of the numbers are duplicated, some appear only once, and some appear three times. The purpose of this indiscriminate arrangement of face of the plate 1 bears an annular the numbers comprising the series 35, will be presently set forth. By reference to sai d Figure 1, it will be observed that the series of numbers 35 is concentric to a center to which the arcuate margins 5 of the plates 1 and 2 are likewise concentric.

The chart as thus far described, is intended to be employed in presenting to the r multipliers, divisors, subtraln menses pupils prob'len'isin' arithmetic involving the various processes of the science and which problems" are of a simple nature and capable of'beinginentaliy solved and the solutioirthereof given orallyto'the teacher by the b the'nunieral'ilg and which ma be either of the signs'27, 3001 shown in'the right hand 'viewof Figure Then, by pointing to any desired one of the numbers ofthe series 35, the'teacher may request any i diid'dual'pupil to solve the problem of divic'lingtTS by theparticulai"number ot the series 35 pointed out, the numbers or'digits upon the discs 9 and 8, when combined, representinp; the dividend, the arithmetical sign"upon' the disc 10 presented within the is'to be followed, and the number of the series 35 pointed'to by the teacher, representingth'e divisor. The pupil mentally solving" the problem, will then respond orally by stating thequotient. Of course, by turthera-djiisting the disc 10 other arithinetiealsigns may be brought to view within the bounds of the opening 20 and thus the various"arithmetical processes may .be followed out, for example, without disturbing the adjustment of the discs 9 and 8, and by the teacher pointing to selected numbers of the series35; At this point, it will be evident that by variously relatively adjusting the discs 9 thedise10,to present various arithmetical process "signs, the composites of the numbers of the series 21 and 22 upon the 8 and 9 may constitute lTlUliLlPllCfllldS, divi dcnds, 1ninuends,- and numbers to which other numbers are to be ad'ded, so that all of the arithmetical processes may be carried out through said adjustments. In this manner, the teacher, out being required 'to write" upon the blackboard, may present the examples or problei'ns to the"pupils, and it will be obvious that a great number of (rmi'ibiiiations 'orfmore" si'iec'ifically, a great number'ot problems, may Toe-presented for solution through adjustment oit'the several discs.

As" heretofore stated, the numbers of the series which numbers n constitute s, or nuns bers'to' be added to thenumbers displayed and S, and likewise adjusting withexamples within the openings 18 and 19, are indi criminately arranged and this is done to preclude any likelihood of any pupil learning the various problems, which may be pre-' sented to him, by rote, rather than by the exercise of his mental faculties.

Inaddition to the possible coniibinations indicated above, as regards the use of the chart as thus far described, it is evident that the disc 9 may be rotatably adjusted to play any selected one oi the arithmetical signs 24, or 536, and the disc 8 may be rotated to display any one of the series of numbers 21, thus indicating the process by which the said number of the series 521 is to be employed in connection With the pointed out one of the series of numbers In thus employing; the chart, the disc 10 will, of course, be rotated to expose one of the vacant spaces betweenthe division sign. 27 and n'iul'tiplication sin-11.33 or the space be-' tween the suljatraction sign S2 and the sign of division 53-41:.

The plate of the chart is formed, approximately opposite the openings 18 and 19 of "the plate 1, and in horizontal alineinent between the pivot pins 11 and 12, with preferably rectangular openings indicated one by the numeral 36 and the other by As 1llustrated in Figure 2 the numeral 37. of the drawings, the discs 8 and 9, in their, rotative adjustment, are adapted to have the peripheral portions of their other faces ef'zposcd to view through the openings 36 andQT f respectively. The left hand view of Figure 3 illustrates the other face of the disc 8 and the peripheral portion of the said face bears an annular series of numbers indicated by the numeral 38 and wh ch numbers may be arbitrarily selected. These numbers are preferably of two digits each and, through rotation of the said. disc 8, with theplate 2 oat the chart 0 nosed to view, any one oi? the series of numbers i'nay be brought into view Within the bounds of the opening 36. Tlho left hand view of Figure l illustrates the-otheriface of the disc 9, lion of the face of tl'iis'disc likewise bears an annular series of numbers indicated by the numeral 39, and which numbers may be arbitrarily selected and arbitrarily arranged, and each of which preferably coniprises a combination of two dig its. It wi ll be evident at this point that the numbers of the series 39 may be selectively brought to view within the bounds of the opening by rot-stably adjusting the said disc 9. The plate 2 is formed with preferably rectanpgular openings i0 and 4-1 which are located in the vertical median line of the plate and equi-distantly spaced above and below the pivot pin 13 for the disc 10, the spacing being such that the peripheral portion of the other face of the said disc 10 and the peripheral por will be exposed to View through said openings 40 and 11. The said other face of the disc 10 is illustrated in the left hand view of Figure 5 and the same bears an approximately semi-circular series of arithmetical process signs, there being in the order named, a sign of division indicated by the numeral 12, a sign of multiplication, inclicated by the numeral 4:3, another sign of iultiplication indicated by the numeral 44:, another sign of division indicated by the numeral 45, a sign of addition indicated by the numeral so, and a. sign of subtraction indicated by the numeral 4 7. This portion of the said face of the disc likewise bears, opposite the sign of division 45, the sign of multiplication 48, and opposite the sign of multiplication ie, the sign of division 1-9. By thus arranging the arithmetical process signs 42 to 47 inclusive, any one of the signs may be brought opposite the opening L0 by rotating the disc 10, a portion of the blank peripheral portion of the face of the cisc being at such time presented at the opening 41, or any one of the said signs may be brought into view at the opening 41 and a blank portion of the disc at the same time exposed at the opening 40, indicating in each instance that only one arithmetical process is to be followed.

Likewise, the disc 10 may be so adjusted that the sign of division 49 will be presented to view within the bounds of the opening 10, and the sign of multiplication 44, located diametrically opposite thereto upon the face of the said disc 10, will be presented to view within the bounds of the op ening 41. On the other hand, the disc may be adjusted so as to bring the sign of multiplication 4-8 within the opening and the sign of division 4-5 within the opening 4-1.

The face of the plate- 2, at the left hand side of the vertical median line of the plat-e, bears two columns of numbers of two digits each, indicated by the numeral 50, and the said plate likewise bears, at the right hand side of the vertical median line, two coluinns of numbers of three digits each, indicated by the numeral 51.

At this point it will be understood, and particularly by reference to Figure 2 of the drawings, that the discs 8 and 9 may be rotatably adjusted, when the plate 2 of the chart is exposed to view, so as to bring into position within the open ngs 86 and 37, selected ones of the series of numbers 38 an d 39 to compose a number of four digits which number may serve as a 'multiplicand, a dividend, a minuend, or a number to which another number is to be added, the disc 10 being rotatably adjusted so as to indicate which of the arithmetical processes is to be followed. In the adjustment of the disc 10,

the arithmetical process signs upon the face of the said disc which are exposed through the opening 40, indicate an arithmetical process to be performed in connect-ion with the composite number {presented to view through the openings 36 and 37, in conjunction with one or more of the numbers in the column 50, whereas the signs presented to view through the opening 41 bear relation to the numbers contained in the column 51. Therefore, the teacher may assign to one grade of pupils examples in which the numbers in the column may constitute multipliers, divisors, subtrahends, or numbers to be added to the composite number presented to view through the openings 36 and 87, and may assign to a higher grade of pupils, problems to be solved in which the numbers of the column 51 may constitute multipliers, divisors, subtrahends, or numbers to be added to the said composite number. On the other hand, if only one class is working in arithmetic, the disc 10 may be. so adjusted as to expose in either of the openings 40 or all, the arithmetical process sign which is to be followed by the class to which the columns of numbers 50 are assigned or the class to which the columns of numbers 51 are assigned. Thus, a great number of combinations may be produced presenting to an individual class or grade, or to two classes or grades of pupils, problems to be solved in writing, the problems in this case being too diflicult for the ordinary pupil so that this employment of the chartis intended primarily for pupils of higher grades.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is:

1. An educational device comprising a plate, discs mounted on the plate, certain discs bearing numbers and another disc bearing arithmetical symbols, and a cover plate having an opening for each of the number bearing discs to' expose a number thereof, and having two openings for the symbol bearing disc to simultaneously expose two symbols at diametrically opposite points, and having two sets of numbers, a

selected number of either set being adapted to be treated by the exposed disc number according to the selected exposed symbols.

2. In an educational. chart for presenting problems in arithmetic, a plate having sight openings therein horizontally oppositely arranged relatively close to each other and provided with other sight openings relatively spaced an appreciable distance, the plate bearing a column of numbers associated with one of the last mentioned sight openings at one side thereof and a second column of numbers of a greater number of digits associated with the other one of the last mentioned sight openings at the other side thereof, discs rotatable with relation to the plate and bearing each an annular series of numbers adapted, in the rotative adjustment of the said discs to be selectively presented to View Within the bounds of the respective ones of the first mentioned sight openings, and a disc rotatable with relation to the said plate and bearing a series of signs of arithmetical processes arranged, in the ro tative adjustment of the last mentioned disc, to be presented at one or another or both of the last mentioned sight openings, the

1 digits of the numbers presented at the first mentioned sight openings constituting a composite number, and the arithmetical signs presented at the second mentioned sight openings indicating the arithmetical process or processes to be followed in connection With said composite number and individual numbers of the first and second mentioned series upon said plate.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

RAY S. THOMPSON. [Ls] 

